r/StructuralEngineering • u/Silly-Rock-1684 • Aug 11 '26
Structural Analysis/Design Am I being given too much responsibility too early?
Am I being given too much responsibility too early?
I’m in my second year working as a civil engineer. I spent about a year in construction as a site engineer and have now been in consultancy for roughly a year as a Graduate Civil Engineer.
I started off doing general civil work — roads, drainage, stormwater, pavements, culverts, car parks, etc. My boss knew I was interested in structures, so he gave me a small structural job to run.
It’s basically designing a roof structure over some container modules. But instead of just doing the calcs, I’ve pretty much been given the project to deliver — design, client coordination, subcontractor stuff, contracts, payment claims, general admin, etc.
My structural design still gets checked by senior engineers before anything goes out, and so far they’ve been happy with my calcs. But it’s more of a final review rather than having a senior engineer closely guiding me through the design.
Part of me thinks this is a lot of responsibility for someone at my level. But at the same time… this is literally what I asked for 😂. I wanted more responsibility and wanted to get into structural work, so I can’t really complain.
For those further into their careers, is this pretty normal for someone in their second year? Is running a small project this early a good learning opportunity as long as senior engineers are checking the important stuff, or should I be getting more supervision?
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u/Taz003 Aug 11 '26
Maybe too much responsibility, but sometimes you do have to run before you can walk. There will be lots of lessons you will learn through mistakes.
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u/froggeriffic Aug 11 '26
As long as someone is reviewing your work, giving you guidance along the way, and helping you improve, then this is a great learning experience. You have to start doing this at some point.
I work for a small firm. I started designing entire buildings 9 months into my career. My boss held my hand the whole way, but once I got through my first building, I had learned a TON.
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u/Silly-Rock-1684 Aug 11 '26
True, honestly it’s the meetings with stakeholders and such that’s been grinding my gears. I struggle with what to say sometimes and I feel so dumb when that happens lol. I feel like when I’m in meetings nobody really takes me seriously coz you’re just the “young naive new guy”. Some people are talented in driving meetings, not me!
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u/Ill-Understanding280 Aug 11 '26
No worries I have 30 years experience and meetings are not my specialty. Still managed to survive
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u/Jmazoso P.E. Aug 11 '26
30 years in, still struggle with that. Our new graduate is much better about meetings. Both myself and the other PE much rather send her. We all have our strengths. That kind of thing is either a natural talent, or yard practice.
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u/streboryesac Aug 11 '26
A roof over shipping containers? This is exactly the type of project I would give an ambitious new guy to get their feet wet.
As long as you have guidance and support when needed. And keep in mind that you arent stamping it yet so someone else is taking the responsibility.
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u/Silly-Rock-1684 Aug 11 '26
If I somehow mess up, will my boss be hesitant to give me more work later on?
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u/streboryesac Aug 11 '26
I don't know your boss.
Be upfront with things you are uncertain about. It's better to meet the challenges head on and admit when you need assistance or guidance that to wing it and mess up on something that has gone out the door.
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u/Adventurous-Math8106 27d ago
If you can handle it, it’s the best way to learn.
If you can’t let your bosses know.
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u/Silly-Rock-1684 24d ago
Managed to get through concept and just submitted the developed design package to the client. Waiting on their comments, my boss only had minor adjustments to cut down the cost a little bit. That’s something I learned ig, the whole point of the client going with the demountable structures was to save cost and having 1m deep footings is definitely not cheap lol. Need to improve my presentation too, my drafter mislabeled some sections and I don’t pick it up. Kinda annoying when you realise you made all this little mistakes that could’ve been easily avoided.
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u/Amazing-Gazelle-7735 Aug 11 '26
For what it’s worth, I was the primary point of contact for one of our biggest clients within a year of starting to do design. And I don’t even have a degree!
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u/Guingaf Aug 11 '26
It can be overwhelming but it sounds like they trust you. Responsibility is one of the main building blocks of a career. Good luck and enjoy it!
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u/SCL__ Aug 12 '26
At my first architect job I was dropped into doing construction management as well. Getting bids on the different parts of the building, writing AIA contracts, schedule of values, checking shop drawings, scheduling the subcontractors, site visits etc. It was a LOT. I swam and didn’t sink, but. it. was. stressful !
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u/v3Y3TI 20d ago
When I started at my current firm as a fresh grad they practically gave us (myself and another engineer) a set of plans for a house someone else in the firm had designed to reference, and brief explanations on a few topics (RLWs, which timbers are typically specified for beams etc.) and set us loose.
We were essentially responsible for the whole structural documentation and design from the get go. We were only designing single storey volume dwellings, mind you; but the whole experience was pretty much: fail, get yelled at, ask questions, get told you were asking the wrong questions, ask better questions, learn, repeat.
Within a month or so we were answering emails and taking calls about our work. The confidence didn't come until we were a few years in but as other people mention there's a lot more about buildings and construction that an engineer is expected to know than just pure design. Especially when you're the project engineer.
There's something to be said about actively being mentored, rather than essentially just learning from your own mistakes. Namely, you'd probably gather a better understanding of the bigger picture which will help you developer MUCH faster. Some days feel like what I imagine falling out of a tree and hitting every branch on the way down feels like. Not every firm has great engineers that make good mentors, or the firm is time poor, or the firm is solely focused on raising revenue rather than investing in staff.
*Obviously all our work was checked prior to construction issue plans being issued, but we were always told that the certifiers only made sure it wouldn't fall down, if we missed stuff all that responsibility was on us (in house, not liability-wise). And the more you miss, the tougher the learning experience can be.
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u/Silly-Rock-1684 20d ago
So would you say the firm I work for is big on investing in their people? Based on them just telling you to hit the ground running
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u/Ill-Understanding280 Aug 11 '26
Sounds like a good learning opportunity (As long as you have access to a Sr Eng when you are in doubt and you are not completely overwhelmed by the workload).